Safety-gate for drawbridges and railroad-crossings



(No Model.)

W. F. GONDON.

SAFETY GATE FOR DRAWBRIDGES AND RAILROAD CROSSINGS. No. 563,019.Patented June 30, 1-896.- Rj-4 Z A R 5m Q%//, a. I

ANDREW EGRAMM, Pnumu'mawAsHlNGYON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. CONDON, OF SAGINAVV, MICHIGAN.

SAFETY-GATE FOR DRAWBRIDGES AND RAILROAD-CROSSINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,019, dated June 30,1896.

Application filed April 6, 1896. Serial No. 586,369. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. CONDON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Saginaw, in the county of Saginaw and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Gates forDrawbridges and Railroad- Crossings; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to gates intended more particularly fordrawbridges, and it has for its object to provide an efficient andcomparatively inexpensive construction, in which the gate, as the drawis swung open, will be projected above the road-bed of the bridge andwhich will stand in that position until the draw is closed and thelocking-lever ordinarily employed is operated to lock the draw, saidlever when operated being adapted to contact with a part of the gatemechanism, so as to lower the gate and hold it lowered until the draw isagain to be opened.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as mayhereinafter appear the invention consists in the construction and in thecombination of parts hereinafter particularly described, and then soughtto be specifically defined by the claims, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which- Figure l isa longitudinal section through a portion of a bridge, showing the partsin position when the gate is lowered Fig. 2 is a side view of a portionof the gate, partly in section, showing the operating parts of the gatein full lines with said parts in the position which they have when thegate is raised, parts of the gate proper and of the light suspending-armbeing broken away and a portion of the longit-udinally-extendingoperating-rod being broken away. Fig. 3 is a perspective of a part of abridge illustrating the gate formed of two parts, with one part elevatedand the other depressed. Fig. 4 is a transverse section through thebridge, showing a front elevation of the transverse crankrodandbeam-depressing lever; and Fig. 5 is a detail, partly in section, ofa portion of the main operating-rod, which is broken away in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates longitudinal timbers of thebridge, and 2 the bridge-floor. A portion of the bridge-floor adjacentto the draw will be cut away transversely, as indicated at 3, so as topermit the draw-gate to operate through the cut-away portion.

The gate is composed, preferably, of two chann el-irons 4, connectedtogether by a series of vertical rods 5, said rods being so positionedthat they can move up and down between the longitudinal timbers of thebridge, the upper channel-iron being adapted to lie in the transverseopening 3 of the bridge-floor and flush with the bridge-floor when thegate is lowered.

The gate is guided in its vertical movements and prevented from swinginglaterally by means of transverse rods 6, extending across thelongitudinal timbers of the bridge and secured thereto by staples orotherwise to both the top and bottom of the longitudinal timbers.

A chain 7 is connected to one side of the lower channel-iron 4: andpasses over sheaves 8 and 9 and has a weight 10 connected to its end, towhich chain is connected the crankarm 11 of a swinging standard 12,whichcarries the lantern 13, so that when the draw-gate is raised the weight10 will turn the crank-arm 11, so as to swing the upper arm of thestandard 12 to bring the lantern crosswise of the bridge, to indicatethat the gate is raised, said crank-arm being turned in the oppositedirection in the downward movement of the gate, so as to swing the upperarm of the standard parallel with the bridge when the gate is lowered,to indicate that the roadway is clear. To the opposite side of the lowerchannel-iron 4 is connected one end of the chain 14. by means of a hook15 or otherwise, which chain passes over a sheave 16 and has connectedto its lower end a weight l7,adapted to project the gate into itselevated position when the gate is to be raised, which weight may beassisted in its action in lifting the gate by the other weight 10.

The lower portion of the gate is connected to a vertically-swingingbeam18, for instance, by means of a hook 19, projecting from the end of thebeam and connected by a link or chain 20 to the lower part of thedraw-gate, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, which beam18 is pivoted at its rear to a depending bracket 21. Above the beam 18is a swinging lever 22, which may have a friction-roller 23 at its endadapted to contact with the top of the beam 18. I prefer to form thislever 22 as a part of rod 24, extending transversely across the bottomof the longitudinal timber 1 of the bridge and adapted to turn ineyebolts 25, which will support the rod from the longitudinal timbers.This transverse rod is formed with a crank 26, to which is connected theinner end of an operating-rod 27, extending longitudinally of thebridge-timbers and between two of them, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4:of the drawings. The outer end of this rod will terminate in a lineflush with the end of the timbers 1 next to the draw, or slightly infrom the ends thereof in position to have the end of the locking-leverof the draw to contact with it when the locking-lever is thrown inposition by the draw-tender to lock the draw, said locking-lever beingindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings, but not illustratedin detail because it is in common use and forms no part of thisinvention. lVhen this locking-lever is thrown into locking position, itbears against the end of the rod 27 and pushes the same inward, so as toturn the crank 26 of the rod 24, and thus throw down the lever 22, whichbearing against the top of the swinging beam 18 will press down thatbeam and draw down the draw-gate, at the same time lifting the weights10 and 1-7, and the several parts are thus brought into the positionindicated in Fig. 1 of the drawin gs and held in that position by thepressure of the locking-lever against the end of the rod 27, so long asthe draw remains locked. When the lockinglever is withdrawn to unlockthe draw, the weights 10 and 17 will throw the draw-gate and itsconnections into the position indicated in, Fig. 2 of the drawings, atwhich time the lantern 13 will stand across the roadbed and give thesignal that the gate is up and the draw open.

For the purpose of providing for adjustment in the length of theoperating-rod 27, so as to compensate for wear and tear or other causesand keep the rod at the proper length, the end of the rod 27 isscrew-threaded and a cap 29 is screwed thereon and locked in place by ajam-nut 30. (Illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings.)

For the purpose of guardingagainst any accidental or wilful lowering ofthe gates by any person other than the draw-tender, I pivot a hook 31 toa cross-rod or pin 32 in such manner that when the draw-gate is elevatedthe end of the hook will fit beneath the bottom channel-iron 4 and thusprevent the gate from being'lowered. This hook has an upwardlyextendingarm or extension 33, to which is connected one end of a link rod 34, theother end of which is connected to the crank of the cross-rod 24, sothat when the operating-rod 27 is pressed inwardly to depress the beam18 the rod 34 will press on the extension 33, so

as to throw the hook 31 from under the bottom channel-iron and into theposition indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and thusleave thedraw-gate free to be lowered.

For the purpose of sounding an alarm at the time that the gate is bothraised and lowered, I provide a gong 35, which will be operated by somesuitable connection with some part of the gate-operating mechanism. Forinstance, I may provide a series of pins 36, projecting from one side ofthe sheave 16 and arranged so as to contact with the rear end of apivoted finger 37, which at its other end will have the ball or knockeradapted to strike the gong 35. This finger may be connected with aspring 38, adapted to retract the finger in whichever direction it maybe moved to strike the gong. As the sheave 16 rotates, the projectingpins thereon will strike the rear end of the finger 37, and thus aseries of alarms are given. This will be the case in whichever directionthe sheave rotates, so as to sound the alarm in both raising andlowering the gate.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have illustrated the bridge as provided withtwo of these gates, both of which will be provided with and operated inthe manner just described, and the construction and operation alreadygiven will answer for both. The purpose of employing two gates at eachside of the draw is to en able vehicles already on the draw to pass 01fand prevent others from passing onto the draw, thus enabling thedraw-tender to have the draw cleared of all travel before proceeding toopen the same. This is done by raising one gate at each end'of the drawon opposite sides of the roadway. Ihave also illustrated in the samefigure street-railway tracks laid upon the floor of the bridge. Thesetracks can be the ordinary flat rails used for streetrailways or anyother form desired, and are designated by the numerals 39. It will alsobe observed that where the draw-gates are located sections of theserails are secured to the top channel-bars, so as to be raised andlowered with them.

I have illustrated this draw-gate as applied to only one end of thebridge near the draw; but it will be understood that the other sec-.tion of the bridge next to the opposite end of the draw will beprovided with the gates in the same way.

- I have illustrated and described with particularity the preferreddetails of construction and arrangement of the several parts; but it isobvious that changes can be made therein without departing from theessential features of the invention.

With a gate constructed and applied as I have described it may be saidthat absolute safety is afforded and accidents guarded against, as analarm is sounded before the gates are operated either in raising orlowering and sufiicient warning thus given to enable persons crossingthe bridge to move away from the gates. The gates are also of suchconstruction that a person cannot pass from one side to the other whenraised, nor can the gates be tampered with and operated by any one otherthan the draw-tender.

The bottom of the gate may be an angleiron instead of a channel-iron.

\Vhile this gate is particularly well adapted for drawbridges, still itcan be used at railwaycross'ings or elsewhere.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a safety-gate, the combination with a gate adapted to be raisedand lowered, of a weight connected with the gate to raise the same, apivoted beam connected with the gate, a swinging lever adapted to bearagainst the beam to depress the same for lowering the gate, a rotatablerod having said lever connected to it and formed with a crank, and anoperating-rod connected to said crank for operating the same to forcethe lever against the beam to lower the gate, substantially as and forthe purposes described.

2. In a safety-gate, the combination with a gate adapted to be raisedand lowered, of a weight connected with the gate to raise the same, apivoted beam, a link connection between said beam and gate, acrank-shaft having a bent lever formed as a part thereof and adapted tobear against the top of the beam to depress the same for lowering thegate, and an operating-rod connected with the crank of said shaft foroperating the bent lever, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

3. In a safety-gate, the combination with a gate adapted to be raisedand lowered, of a weight connected with the gate to raise the same,apivoted beam connected with the gate, a swinging lever adapted to bearagainst the top of the beam to depress the same to lower the gate, achain connected with the gate and having a weight attached thereto,sheaves for the chain to pass over, and a swinging signalstandard havinga crank at its lower end connected to said chain so as to be swungacross a road-bed as the gate is raised and parallel with the road-bedas the gate is lowered, sub stantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

4. In a safety-gate, the combination with a gate adapted to be raisedand lowered, of a weight connected with the gate to raise the same, aswingingbeam connectedwith the gate to lower the gate, a crank-shaftprovided with a lever adapted to bear against the top of the beam todepress the same, an operating-rod connected with the crank of saidshaft to lower the lever, a hook adapted to be thrown under the gatewhen the gate is raised to prevent the gate being lowered, and alink-rod connected at one end to said hook and at the opposite end tothe crank of the crank-shaft so as to swing the hook from under the gatewhen the latter is to be lowered and project the hook under the gatewhen raised, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. In a safety-gate,the combination of a gate adapted to be raised andlowered, a chain connected at one end to said gate and provided with aweightiat the opposite end to raise the gate, a sheave for said chain topass over, a swinging beam connected with the gate to lower the same, alever adapted to bear against the top of the beam to depress the same, aswinging signal-standard formed with a crank at its lower end, and achain connected at one end with the gate and having a weight at theother end and connected to the crank of the signal-standard so as toswing the standard as the gate is raised and lowered, substantially asand for the purposes described.

6. In a safety-gate, the combination with a gate adapted to be raisedand lowered, means for raising the gate, a swinging beam connected withthe gate to lower the same, a lever adapted to bear against the top ofthe beam to depress the same, a crank-shaft to which said lever isconnected, an operating-rod connected to the crank of said shaft, and anadjustable cap on the end of said rod, substantially as andfor thepurposes described.

7. The combination of a gate adapted to be raised and lowered, a weightfor raising the gate, a swinging beam connected with the gate to lowerthe same, a crank-shafthaving a lever adapted to bear against the top ofthe beam to depress the same, an operating-rod connected to the crank ofsaid shaft, a swinging signalstandard, a chain connected to the gate andhaving a weight and connected with a crank attached to the lower end ofsaid standard for swinging the standard as the gate is raised andlowered,and means for sounding an alarm as the gate is raised andlowered, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM F. CONDON.

Witnesses:

NATHAN H. ROBBINS, E. E. OVERHOLT.

